Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  4000 Creation  »  4900 Time  »  4975 week

The pattern of weeks provides a useful framework for marking time in agricultural and religious life. The story of creation is described in terms of seven days and illustrates a cycle of work and rest. Feasts and other rituals last for a certain number of weeks.

The seven days of creation

Genesis 2:1-3 See also Genesis 1:5,8,13,19,23,31

The Sabbath-rest

Deuteronomy 5:12-14 pp Exodus 20:8-11 See also Exodus 34:21; Exodus 35:2; Hebrews 4:3-4,8-10

Seven-day intervals or periods

After building the ark Noah had seven days' notice of the flood

Genesis 7:4

Noah sent out the dove at seven-day intervals

See also Genesis 8:8-12

Marching round Jericho

Hebrews 11:30 See also Joshua 6:12-15

Other examples of seven-day intervals or periods

Exodus 7:25; Exodus 29:30; 1 Samuel 10:8; Samuel 11:3; Samuel 13:8; 1 Kings 20:29; 1 Chronicles 9:25; Acts 20:6; Acts 21:4; Acts 28:14

Rituals lasting seven days

Menstrual impurity

Leviticus 15:19

Initial period of uncleanness after childbirth

Leviticus 12:1-2 This would be fourteen days if the child were a girl (Lev 12:5).

Mourning

Genesis 50:10 See also 1 Samuel 31:13 pp 1 Chronicles 10:12; Job 2:13; Ezekiel 3:15

The Feast of Weeks

Deuteronomy 16:9-10 See also Exodus 34:22; Leviticus 23:15-21; Numbers 28:26-31

Feasts lasting seven days

Wedding feasts

Genesis 29:27 See also Judges 14:10-12

The Feast of Unleavened Bread

Exodus 34:18 See also Leviticus 23:5-8; 2 Chronicles 30:21-23; 2 C 17; Ezra 6:22

The Feast of Tabernacles

Leviticus 23:34 See also Leviticus 23:36; Nehemiah 8:18

Dedication of the temple

1 Kings 8:65 pp 2 Chronicles 7:8-9

Daniel's “weeks”

Daniel 9:24 “sevens” may also be translated “weeks”. See also Daniel 9:25-27

God promises that times and seasons will always continue

Jeremiah 5:24 See also Genesis 8:22

See also

1653  numbers, 6-10
4005  creation
4903  time
4921  day
4970  seasons of year
5056  rest
7354  feasts and festivals
7361  Feast of Weeks
7408  Pentecost
7428  Sabbath